Baseball game device



Nov. 7, 1944. J. CLARK BASEBALL GAME DEVICE Fiied Oct. 26, 1942 2 Sheets- Sheet 1- MM I i in v INVENTOR. $2,729.; C [art Nov. 7, 1944'. J. CLARK BASEBALL GAME DEVICE Filedvoct. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1944 I umrEofs AT s PATENT OFFICE BASEBALL GAME DEVICE James Clark, Bronx, N. Y. Application October 26, 1942, Serial No. 463,363

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a baseball game device. More'specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a baseballgame device character ized :by a rectangular board provided with a batting mechanism and a pitching mechanism arranged in a manner to throw balls towards the batting mechanism to be batted'by the batting mechanism.

Another object of this invention proposes release wires connected with the batting mechanism and the pitching mechanism and extended to the sides of the board to be connected with control levers in a manner to cause the mechanisms to be released to operate when the levers are manually pivoted.

Still another object of this invention proposes the provision of a means for restraining the operation of'the batting-mechanism to reduce the swing of the bat in a manner to cause the ball to be hunted when desired.

It is a further object of this invention to mount the batting mechanism in on corner of the board and to provide [grandstands along' the two sides of the board furthest from the batting mechanism and to print the surface of the board with a. playing diamond to give the device a realistic appearance.

A still further object of the invention proposes forming the front of the grandstands with a number of superimposed openings through which the batted balls are'adapted to pass'in a manner to indicat a hit of a given length.

It is further proposed to construct a baseball game device which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

' In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a baseball game device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1.

ing the pitching mechanism after being released.

Fig. 8 is a sectional perspective View through a portion of the board adjacent one of the release mechanisms.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of mechanism loaded.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating the batting mechanism after being released.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the corner of the board having the batting mechanism and discloses details of a hunting apparatus.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of Fig. 11 showing the bunting apparatus in opera tive position in relation to the'bat during a bunting operation.

The baseball game device, according to this invention, includes a substantially rectangular field board I0 having th representation of a baseball diamond H imprinted on its top face. Wooden strips l2 are mounted along the adjacent sides of the field board ID. The other two adjacent sides continue into panels upon which grandstands I4 are formed.

The grandstan'ds M are characterized by vertically spaced horizontally extending strips IS the batting forming spaces l6, l1 and 18. The outer ends Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational View looking in the direction of the line 4-4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial plan view looking in the direction of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and having a portion thereof broken away to reveal interior construction. Fig. 6 is a perspective. View of the pitching mechanism loaded.

Fig. '7 is a view similar toFig. 6, but illustratof the strips l5 are permanently attached to vertical'flag staffs I9 which rest upon the top edge of the panels l3 adjacent the ends of the strips l2. The adjacent inner end of the strips l5 are formed into tubularprojections 20 through which a flag staff 2| is releasably engaged for maintaining the grandstan-ds upright as will be hereinafter described.

Balls are to be batted towards the grandstands as will become clear as this specification prodeeds and if such a batted ball enters the space l6 it signifies a one-base hit, if it enters the space I! it signifies a two-base hit, if it enters the space l8 it signifies a three-base hit and if the ball is hit clearly over the grandstand it signifies a home run.

The backs of the grandstands M are formed to catch the batted balls that pass through the spaces l6, l1 and I8 and discharge them back onto the board llJ through the space 16. This means is alike for each grandstand and comprises an inclined wall 22 which continues from the panel l3 and which is formed with integral end wall members 23 which engage the back faces of the two lowermost strips l5. A piece of cheesecloth material 24 has its top edge secured to the top edge of the topmost strip l5 and its bottom edge secured to the top edges of the inclined wall 22 and end wall members 23. Balls passing through the spaces l6, I1 or I8 will drop upon the wall 22 and discharge through the space l6 back into the playing field. I

The construction of the grandstands His such that they may be collapsed by bending the inclined walls upwards as the end wall members 23 are bent inwards causing the inclined walls 22, end wall members 23 and cheese-cloth material to be brought flush against the back face of the strips I5. The flag staff 2| is then removed from the tubular projections 20 freeing the adjacent ends of the grandstands permitting them to be bent into a flush position upon the top face of the board l about the junction point of the board and panels l3.

On the baseball diamond representation H at the point normally occupied by the pitcher a pitching mechanism 25 is mounted. This pitching mechanism 25 is characterized by a U-shaped bracket 25 which has its intermediate arm secured to the board 10 by several rivets 21. .An arm 28 is formed intermediate of its ends with a pair .of outwardly extending trunnion elements 29 which pivotally engage complementary openings formed in the top ends of the arms of the U-shaped bracket 26. One end of the arm 28' is formed with a cup-shaped depression 30 into which a ball (not shown on the drawings) is adapted to be rested.

Behind the bracket 26 a catch member 3! is mounted to extend upwards from the board [0. The catch member is constructed of flexible material and has its top end 32 bent towards the bracket 26. The depression 30 continues into a small projection 33 which engages'beneath the bent top end 32 of the catch member 3| to retain the arm 28 loaded.

A spring 34 has one end attached to a hook 35 mounted on the free bottom end of the arm 28. The other end of the spring 31 is attached to one end of a link 36.. This link is formed with an elongated slot 31 through a thumb screw 38. The thumb screw 38 engages a complementary threaded opening formed in the bottom portion of the catch member 3| for clamping the link 31 in various adjusted positions to control the tension of the spring 34 in the loaded position of the arm 28.

Means is provided for flexing the catch member 31' slightly to disengage the top end 32 thereof from the projection 33 to release the arm 28 to be snapped forward by the tension of the spring 34 and throw a ball positioned within the depression 36 towards home plate. This means comprises a cable 39 which has one end attached to the projection 40 formed on the back of the catch member 3| at about the center thereof. The cable 39 then passes through an opening 4! and continues into branch cables 39* which extend along the bottom face of the board 10 to the side strips l2. The end of each auxiliary cable 395' is attached to one end of a lever 42 which is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends upon a pin 43 mounted on its respective strip 1'2. The fre end of the lever 42 is formed with a projection 44 which projects from the strip l2 to permit this end of the lever to be pushed inwards to pull the cable 39 the cable 39 and flex the catch member 3| to disengage the end 32 from the projection 33.

At home plate on the baseball diamond representation, a batting mechanism 45 has been mounted to bat balls thrown towards it by the pitching mechanism 25 out towards the grandstands [4. This batting mechanism 45 is characterized by a vertical post 46 mounted upon the board III. A miniature baseball bat 41 is rotati vely supported upon the top end of the post 46 to swing in a horizontal plane. The post 46 engages through the baseball bat 41 at a point adjacent the holding end. A coil spring is coaxially wound upon the post 46 under tension and has one end attached to the board In and its top end attached to the bat 41. The spring 48 tends to turn the bat 41 into a position in which it engages a stop 49 mounted on the board It to on side of the post 46.

A catch 50 is mounted upon the board N]. This catch 50 is formed of a strip of flexible material and has one end secured to the board 10 by means of rivets 56 The free end of the strip of material from which the catch is made is bent downwards to be engaged behind the handle of the bat as shown in Fig. 9. A cable 5| is attached to the free end of the catch 50 and extends downwards through an opening 52 formed in the board I0. After passing through the board 10 the cable 5i continues into branch cables 5P each of which extends to one of the side strips l2. At this point the ends of the branch cables 5i are attached to levers 42 which are similar in construction to the levers 42 described in connection with the pitching mechanism 25. Thus, when either of the levers 42 are pivoted they will pull downward on the catch member 50 through the medium of the cables 5! and 5| freeing the bat 41 to be swung around by th tension of the spring 46 and hat a ball thrown towards it by the pitching mechanism 25.

Means is provided for flexibly restricting the movement of the bat 41 to merely bunt a ball thrown towards it by the pitching mechanism 25. This bunting apparatus includes a wire or rod 53 turnably mounted in brackets 54 which are mounted on the board 5. The wire 53 has an offset outer end 55 forming a handle by which the bunting apparatus may be placed into and out of operative positions. The wire 53 continues into a radially extending portion 56 which continues into an offset portion 51. The free end of the offset portion 51 is formed with a hook 58 upon which a rubbe band 59 is engaged. The other end of the rubber band is mounted on a hook 66 and secured to the board It). When the rubber band 59 is in a substantially vertical condition, as illustrated by the full lines in Figs. 11 and 12, it will be in the path of motion of the inner end of the bat 41. The rubber band 59 is at a location in which the inner end of the bat 41 will strike it a short period of time prior to the time that the bat 41 is traversing an area in which it can strike a ball pitched by the pitching mechanism 25. The arrow A in Fig. 11 illustrates the path of a pitched ball and it should be noted that the bat 41 is in a located position. The wire53 has a small projection 53 which normally rests against the board [0 and which holds the offset portion 51 past the dead center of pivoting of the wire 53 so that the force of the rubber band 55 holds the bunting apparatus in operative position. 7

When bunting, the bat 41 will travel slightly less than at which point the inner end of the bat will strike the rubber band 53, and an instant later the bat 41 will strike the pitched ball providing it was released'at the right instant. The rubber band 59 will flexibly arrest the movement of the bat so that the ball is bun-ted, that is, it is not stuck with full force.

The bunting apparatus may be moved to an inoperative position by moving the offset end 55 downwards to a position indicated by the dot and dash lines 55. This turns the wire 53 so that the portions 56 and 51 will assume the positions indicated by reference numerals 56' and 51, flat against the board i0. Now the bat 41 is free to operate and cannot possibly strike the rubber band 59.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The players choose sides with one side going to bat and the other going into the field. The side in the field operates the pitching mechanism and the side atbat operates the batting mechanism. With the device assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the pitching mechanism 25 is set by engaging the projection 33 beneath the bent top end 32 of the catch member 3|. A ball is then placed within the depression 30.

The batting mechanism 45 is loaded by engaging the handle end of the bat 41 behind the downwardly bent end of the catch 50. The side in the field then depresses one of the levers 42 controlling the pitching mechanism 25 to pull the-cable 39 and free the arm 28 to be pivoted by the tension of the spring 34 to throw the ball in the depression 30 in the direction of home plate and the batting mechanism. At the proper instant after the ball has been released the side operating the batting mechanism 45 pushes one of the levers 42' to pull the cable 5| and flex the catch 50 and release the bat 41 to be swung around by the tension of the Spring 48.

If judgment of the speed of the ball has been correct the bat 41 will strike the ball and hit it towards the grandstand M where it will enter one of the spaces I6, I! or l8 to record a base hit. The ball will then discharge back onto the playing field Hi to be replaced within the depression 30 of the reloaded pitching mechanism for the next pitch towards the plate. The pitching mechanism 25 and the batting mechanism must be reloaded after each play.

If the judgment of the speed of the ball has been incorrect the bat 4'! will miss the ball recording a strike. When the ball has been missed on three occasions one out will have'been recorded. The side at bat remains at bat until three outs have been recorded and at'the end of the half inning the number of runs scored are totaled.

After three outs have been recorded the side in the field comes to bat and operates the batting mechanism and the side that was at bat 1 goes in the field and operates the pitching mechanism. This change of sides continues until nine innings have been played. Each side adds up the number of runs it made in each inning and the side having the greatest number of runs wins the game.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a baseball game device, a substantially rectangular field board, continuation panels extending from two adjacent sides of said field board, grandstands mounted upon said continuation panels, said grandstands comprising inclined walls extending rearwards from said panels, superimposed spaced horizontal strips above said panel forming superimposed spaces. end wall members formed on said inclined walls and engaging the back faces of said strips, and cheesecloth material having its top edge secured to the topmost or said strips and its bottom edge secured walls extending rearwards from said panels, su-

perimposed spaced horizontal strips above said panel forming superimposed spaces, end wall' members formed on said inclined walls and engaging the back faces of said strips, and cheesecloth material having its top edge secured to the topmost of said strips and its bottom edge secured to said inclined wall and said end Wall members, and means for collapsibly supporting said grandstands, comprising vertical fiagstaffs removably mounted on said field board and to which the ends of said horizontal strips are removably attached.

3. In a base ball game device, a substantially rectangular field board, continuation panels extending from two adjacent sides of said field board, grandstands mounted upon said continuation panels, said grandstands comprising inclined walls extending rearwards from said panels, superimposed spaced horizontal strips above said panel forming superimposed spaces, end wall members formed on said inclined walls and engaging the back faces of said strips, and cheesecloth material having its top edge secured to the topmost of said strips and its bottom edge secured to said inclined wall and said end wall members, and means for collapsibly supporting said grandstands, comprising vertical fiagstafis removably mounted on said field board and to which the ends of said horizontal strips are removably attached, said removable attachment of said flagstaifs to the ends of said strips, comprising tubular portions formed on the ends of said strips and through which said flagstaffs are slidably extended.

4. In a baseball game device, a substantially rectangular field board, continuation panels extending from two adjacent sides of said field board, grandstands mounted upon said continuation panels, said grandstands comprising inclined walls extending rearwards from said panels, superimposed spaced horizontal strips above said panel forming superimposed spaces, end wall members formedon said inclined Walls and engaging the back iaces'of said strips, and cheesecloth material having its top edge secured to the topmost of said strips and its bottom edge secured to said inclined wall and said end wall members, and means for collapsibly supporting said grandstands, comprising vertical flagstaffs removably mounted on said field board and to which the ends of said horizontal strips are removably attached, said removable attachment of said flagstails to the ends of said strips, comprising tubular portions formed on the ends of said strips and through which fiagstaffs are slidably extended, said strips having tubular portions of their adjacent ends superimposed permitting a single flagstail" to be used for supporting the adjacent ends 

